Variable electronic componet with movable contact means

ABSTRACT

A variable electronic component having a plurality of unmounted coacting elements adaptable for attachment in sub-miniature electronic circuits on a supporting substrate includes, at least one conductive contact means connected to one side of the circuit and adjustable means independent of and in spaced relation to said contact means for operative coaction therewith. The adjustable means has at least one support member of conductive material connected to the other side of the circuit and at least one movable means in current conducting relation with and alidably or rotatably disposed on the support member for guided movement and engagement with the contact means. Means are provided to maintain the movable means in adjusted position of engagement with the contact means, and means disposed between the contact means and the movable means is provided to establish a desired impedance characteristic for said electronic component.

United States Patent [1 1 Newman et al.

[ 1 Sept. 4, 1973' VARIABLE ELECTRONIC COMPONENT WITH MOVABLE CONTACT MEANS [73] Assignee: Voltronics Corporation, Hanover,

[22] Filed: Mar. 6, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 232,144

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 108,294, Jan. 21, 1971, Pat. No.

[52] US. Cl 338/158, 338/182, 338/202, 200/166 BB, 200/D1G. 29 [51] Int. Cl H0lc 9/02 [58] Field of Search 317/251; ZOO/DIG. 2,

ZOO/DIG. 29, 166 BB, 166 BE; 338/118, 160, 157, 158, 176, 184, 199, 202, 182

3/1957 Germany 200/166 BE 1/1913 France 338/157 Primary Examiner.l. V. Truhe Assistant ExaminerGerald P. Tolin AttorneyPopper, Bain, Bobis & Gildillan [57 ABSTRACT A variable electronic component having a plurality of unmounted coacting elements adaptable for attachment in sub-miniature electronic circuits on a supporting substrate includes, at least one conductive contact means connected to one side of the circuit and adjustable means independent of and in spaced relation to said contact means for operative coaction therewith. The adjustable means has at least one support member of conductive material connected to the other side of the circuit and at least one movable means in current conducting relation with and alidably or rotatably disposed on the support member for guided movement and engagement with the contact means. Means are provided to maintain the movable means in adjusted position of engagement with the contact means, and means disposed between the contact means and the movable means is provided to establish a desired impedance characteristic for said electronic component.

13 Claims, 29 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEP 41915 131157.266

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VARIABLE ELECTRONIC COMPONENT WITH MOVABLE CONTACT MEANS BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This is a division of application Ser. No. 108,294 filed Jan. 21, 1971, now U. S. Pat. No. 3,679,340.

In the advancing technologies of computers, testing equipment, appliances and other fields various types of hybrid electronic circuits, integrated electronic circuits, micro strip amplifiers, micro electronic systems and other electronic devices are being developed which are made on increasingly smaller scales and sizes than has been known theretofore.

In accomplishing this end, the enumerated devices and systems are generally mounted on small flat bases known as substrates and these various systems or devices incorporate or have formed therein or coact with various types of electronic components such as inductors, capacitors, resistors, potentiometers, etc., which in turn must be as small as possible to meet the demands of the reduced scale or size of these systems and devices. 7 g

The known prior art miniature components have about reached their functional limit even with the best precision manufacturing techniques because certain elements of such devices cannot be reduced further at reasonable costs for commercially acceptable regularly usable components.

For example, the present known prior art variable trimmer capacitors heretofore used in miniature electronic circuits require a mounting frame and a tuning mechanism and there is a limit as to how much these elements can be miniaturized and still provides effective and proper function.

Further, the mounting elements and tuning mechanisms, when connected in miniature electronic circuits handling high frequencies create unwanted inductance and capacitance in the systems and devices in which they are used because they form stray current paths when placed in close proximity to each other; as may be required in miniature systems or small electronic designs; they product, unwanted circuit interaction such as excessive coupling.

The present invention provides a variable electronic component which is particularly adapted to meet and overcome the problems of these prior art devices and accomplishes this by eliminating the area and mass of conventional mounting frames, tuning mechanisms and other elements heretofore used; and instead integrates the elements of the variable electronic component into the circuit.

The present device is primarily designed as a low profile structure exceedingly small in size, simple in, construction, easily adjustable, reliable in operation, easily replaceable and reproducible in quantity without sacrificing uniformity of performance.

(The parent application under said Ser. No. 108,294 has now matured into US. Pat. No. 3,679,340.)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus, the present invention covers a variable electronic component having a plurality of unmounted coacting elements adaptable for use in sub-miniature electronic circuits on a supporting substrate which comprises, a conductive contact means connected to one side of said circuit, a support member or holder of conductive material independent of said contact means OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES I Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to produce a variable electrical component in which the part or parts thereof are independently mountable in current conducting circuit disposed on an associated substrate.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a variable electronic component which is relatively small and cheap to build wherein the area and mass of conventional mounting means and tuning means of the known prior art devices are substantially eliminated.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a variable electronic component particularly adapted for use in high frequency sub-miniature electronic systems and devices.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a variable electronic component which is relatively easy to adjust to provide fine tuning for the electronic circuit in which it will be used.

With the above considerations and objects in mind, the invention itself will now be described in connection with several preferred embodiments thereof given by way of example and not by way of limitation and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a highly enlarged view of a micro-lumped thin film circuit having a variable trimmer capacitor thereon in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded view of the variable trimmer capacitor shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view partly broken away of another form of variable resistor in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the variable resistor shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged end view of the variable resistorshown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-section taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of another form of variable resistor in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged side elevational view of the fonn of variable resistor shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an end view of the form of variable resistor shown in FIG. 8 taken from the left side.

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-section taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of another form of variable resistor in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged side elevational view of the form of the invention shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is an end view of the form of the invention shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a vertical cross-section taken on line 15-15 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged perspective view of a wire form of variable resistor in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged side elevational view of the form of variable resistor shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged perspective view of still another form of wire type variable resistor in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. ,19 is an enlarged side elevational view of the form of variable resistor shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is an enlarged perspective view of a variable switch in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged side elevational view of the variable switch shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a longitudinal section taken on line 22-22 of the variable switch shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 23 is a vertical section taken on line 23-23 of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is an enlarged perspective of a variable dual switch in accordance with the present invention substantially similar to FIG. 20.

FIG. 25 is an enlarged perspective of another variable switch in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a side elevation of the variable switch shown in FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a longitudinal cross-section taken on line 27-27 of the form of variable switch shown in FIG. 25.

FIG. 28 is a vertical section taken on line 28-28 of the variable switch shown in FIG. 26.

FIG. 29 is an enlarged perspective view of a wire form of variable switch in accordance with the present invention. I

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the variable trimmer capacitor form of the present invention which is more fully described and shown in the parent application Ser. No. 108,294 now US. Pat. No. 3,679,340. It is shown in the present'application to illustrate one application for the various types of variable electronic components in accordance with the present invention.

Thus, FIG. 1 showed the variable trimmer capacitor generally designated 20 applied to a sub-miniature electronic circuit of the micro lumped thin film construction generally designated 10 which is sued for example, in 2 GHz 5 watt power amplifiers. The electronic circuit is illustrated in highly enlarged form as its actual dimensions are about one square inch.

The variable trimmer capacitor 20 illustrated will have actual approximate dimensions and sizes as follows Height 0.04 inch, Width 0.07 inch and Length 0.200 inch. A variable trimmer capacitor with these dimensions will have a capacitance range from 0.1 pf to above 2.5 pf (pico farads); minimum voltage ratings will be 100 volts D.C. amd a Q over 1,000 at 100 GHZ.

It is noted that in all the other forms of the present invention illustrated in the various figures to be described hereinafter that the elements are also shown in highly enlarged form to more clearly illustrate the construction and arrangement of the parts. It will be understood thst these forms of the invention may also have dimensions similar to those above indicated for the variable trimmer capacitor illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

intact as the ground plane and the current carrying strip 14 and other strips in spaced relation provide a plurality of patterns which form the functional components of the circuit indicated by the letters C for capacitors and L for inductors. Such forms of circuitry are well known in the prior art and must be made with great precision.

FIGS. 1 and 2 further show that the variable trimmer capacitor includes a conductive means 2H connected to the current carrying strip 14 of the electronic circuit disposed on the substrate A and spaced thereform is a support member or shuttle holder 22 also made of conductive material and connected to the side of the circuit elements 13 forming the ground GND opposite in the circuit from that to which the conductive contact means 21 is connected.

The support member is so spaced that a movable member or shuttle 23 mounted on the support member 22 can be moved into and out of engagement with the contact means or clasp 21. The coaction between the movable member and the contact means will perform the operative function of the variable trimmer capacitor.

The variable trimmer capacitor is affixed in properly adjusted position for the desired interrelation between the movable member or shuttle 23 and the contact means of clasp 21 as by solder means 24 for affixing the elements to the electronic circuit parts.

Alternatively the elements of the variable trimmer capacitor can be affixed directly to the substrate and connected by suitable lead lines, not shown, to the current conducting section 13 and the current conducting strip 14 of the electronic circuit formed on the substrate A. Thus, there is no independent mounting frame or other means provided for the elements 21, 22 and 23 of the variable trimmer capacitor. The elements 21, 22 and 23 are integrated directly into the electronic circuit as a component thereof.

It is thought clear from FIGS. 1 and 2 that the elements of the variable trimmer capacitor are shown to have no independent mounting means and that the elements are independently and directly connected into the circuit itself hence they are supported by the same substrate that supports the circuit. The only requirement to get effective operation is to so space the contact means 21 and the shuttle holder 22 that the movable member or shuttle 23 can be brought into and out of full engagement with the contact means or clasp 21. The construction of these elements of the variable trimmer capacitor 20 and their operation interrelation is fully described in said US. Pat. No. 3,679,340.

VARIABLE RESISTOR WITH MOVABLE MEANS MOUNTED FOR ROTATABLE ENGAGEMENT In the form of the invention above described and other forms of this invention as described in US. Pat. No. 3,679,340 the movable means has been slidably disposed on the support means so that the movable means engages the contact or impedance means by some form of wiping action.

In the forms of the invention now to be described the movable means engages the fixed contacts or fixed impedance means such as a resistance or switch contacts by rolling action.

Thus, referring to FIGS. 3 to 7 one form of variable resistor designated generally 20 is shown as including a fixed impedance means 201 such as a resistive element directly connected into the circuit which is disposed on the substrate.

Above the impedance means and in spaced relation thereto is a box-like element 202 which acts to hold in assembled position for engagement with the impedance means 201 a ball-type contact element 203.

The box-like member is rectangular in plan view and is made of a conductive material. Spaced mounting legs or ears as at 204 and 205 disposed on opposite sides of the box-like support member 202 provide means for mounting the box-like member as by weldments 206 and 207 to the opposite side of the circuit from the side to which the impedance or resistive means 201 is connected.

The box-like member is slit longitudinally and horizontally which slits engage each otherand form spaced retaining members 208 and 209 which as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 are bent upwardly and outwardly from the upper surface 210 of the box-like support member so as to permit the ball-type contact means 203 which has a diameter that is greater than the height of the upper surface 210 of the box-like support member to be held in an adjusted position by the frictional engagement of the underfaces 211 and 212 on the bent portions 213 and 214 of the retaining element 208 and 209.

FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11 show that the diameter of the ball-type movable member 233 is greater than the clearance between the fixed impedance means 231 and the spaced arms 237 and 238 so that when the ball-type movable member 233 is in assembled position it will fit conveniently in the guide opening 239 and be movable therealong in a longitudinal line with respect to the fixed impedance means or resistor 231. The longitudinally extending arms 237 and 238 are provided with rounded downwardly depending front stops as at 240 and 241 to retain the movable member 233 in the guide opening 239. The rear section of the guide opening 239 being closed will function as a rear stop.

As in the form of the invention shown in FIG. 3 the degree of impedance, i.e., the degree of resistance which will be imposed on the circuit in which the variable resistor is connected willdepend on the setting of the ball-type movable member insofar as it is in contact with the impedance means 231.

FIGS. 12 to 15 show a still further form of variable resistor generally designated 250 and this form as in the case of the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 8 to 11 also overhangs the fixed impedance means 251.

The fixed impedance means 251 is connected to one side of the circuit which is mounted on the substrate. The support means 252 will be connected to the side of the circuit opposite from that to which the impedance means 251 is connected and will hold in assembled position with the impedance means 251 a ball-type movable means 253.

The support means 252 includes a base or mounting section 254 which is connected in spaced relation from the impedance means 251 to the circuit as by a soldering element 255.

Continuous with the base or mounting means 254 is a concoluted member 256-which in turn is continuous with a U-shaped member generally designated 257 having an upper leg 258 and a lower leg 259 intermediate the upper leg and the impedance means 251.

The lower leg is provided with a guide opening as at 260 and the upper leg is provided with anadjustment access 261.

By reference to FIGS. 12,13 and 15 it can be seen that the diameter of the ball-type movable member 253 is greater than the clearance space between the impedance means 251 and the lower leg 259 of the U-shaped portion 257 of the support means 252. Thus, when the ball-type movable member 253 is placed in assembled position for engagement with the impedance means 251 it will lie in the guide opening 260 and extend above the surface of the lower leg 259 so that it will be held by the resilient character of the lower leg in contact with the impedance means 251.

The movable member 253 in this form of the invention can be adjusted in assembled position through the access opening 261 so that it can be moved the entire length of the impedance means 251 by the bending action of the U-shaped member 257.

WIRE FORMS OF RESISTORS The forms of the invention shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 and FIGS. 18 and 19 respectively are still further forms of variable resistors even simpler in construction than the variable resistors heretofore described.

These forms of the present invention are called the wire forms and utilize highly resilient and strong wire materials made of nickel-chrome, steel and phosphor bronze alloys, as the support means for a movable member'which is disposed for rotatable engagement with the fixed contacts or impedance means connected in the circuit.

Thus, referring to FIGS. 16 and 17 a variable resistor generally designated 300 is shown as including a fixed impedance means 301 which is mounted on and connected to the circuit formed on the substrate as by any suitable means such as soldering or the like.

Coaxial with the fixed impedance means is a support member 302 which serves to support a ball-type movable means 303 which is disposed for adjustable engagement with the fixed impedance means 301.

As indicated in FIGS. 16 and 17 the support member 302 consists of a bent wire form having a U-shaped central portion 304 a guide opening 305 in which the ball-type movable means 303 is disposed. The U- shaped member 304 communicates by bend means 306 and 307 to U-shaped side member 308 and 309 which are disposed laterally on each respective side of the U- shaped central member 304. The U-shaped member 307 and 308 are connected to the opposite side of the circuit from that to which the impedance means 301 is I connected as by solder element 310 and 311.

In oeration, due to the resilient character of the convoluted wire shape of the element 302 the ball means will be held in engagement with the upper face of the fixed impedance means 30l and can be moved therealong to provide the desired adjustment for the degree of impedance required in the circuit.

In FIGS. 18 and 19 another wire type variable resistor generally designated 320 is shown which also includes a fixed impedance means 321 which is connected to the circuit mounted onto the substrate and a support means 322 which acts to hold a ball-type movable means 323 in operative relation to the fixed impedance means 321.

As one end of the support means 322 the wire is bent of formed into a mounting section made up of two wire sections generally designated 324 and 325 which are connected as by suitable soldering means to the opposite side of the circuit from that to which the fixed impedance means 321 is connected.

The spaced mounting means 324 and 325 in turn communicate through resilient looped portions 326 and 327 to the respective ends of legs 328 and 329 of the elongated U-shaped longitudinally extending member having .a bend 330 at the end remote therefrom which connectes the legs 328 and 329 to form the U- shaped member.

The space between the legs 328 and 329 and the bent portion 330 form a guide opening 331 so that when the support member 322 is disposed in assembled relation to the fixed impedance means 321 the elongated U- shaped member will overhang the fixed impedance means 321 and hold the ball-type movable member 323 in fixed engagement between the underside of the U- shaped and the upper surface of the fixed impedance means 321.

The ball-type movable member can be moved longitudinally from one side of the guide opening 331 to the other along the longitudinal line of the fixed impedance means 321 to set any desired impedance in the circuit in which the variable resistor is mounted.

SWITCH MEANS WITH A ROTATABLE CONTACT ELEMENT In the forms of the invention shown in FIGS. 20, 24, 25 and 29 various types of switch means in accordance with the present invention are illustrated.

Thus, referring to FIGS. to 23 a multi-position switch is generally designated 400. The switch includes a fixed member 401 which may include any number of spaced switch contacts as may be required and these are connected to one side of the electronic circuit which is mounted on the substrate.

A rectangular box-like support member 402 overlies the switch contacts 401 and acts to hold a ball-type movable switch contact 403 in engagement with the multi-position switches at a given setting thereof as in hereinafter described.

The support means 402 includes spaced ears as at 404 and 405 on the sides thereof which serve to connect the support means 402 to the opposite side of the circuit from the side to which the switch means are connected.

The support member 402 is slit longitudinally and transversely in an H form so as to form the retaining members 406 and 407 which members have bent portions as at 408 and 409.

The bent portions 408 and 409 are provided with a plurality of clamped triangular shaped sections as at 410a, 410b, 4100, etc. on member 408 and 411a, 411b, 411c, etc. which crimp section engage with the roundedportion of the ball-type movable means 403 so as to hold the ball-type movable means 403 in any desired switch position to which it may be moved.

The retaining elements 406 and 407 will enable the bent portions 408 and 409 to place sufficient frictional engagement on the outer surface of the ball-type movable member 403 so as to hold it not only in engagement with the plurality of switch elements on member 401 but additionally will be able to hold the same in a predetermined given position to which the ball-type movable member 403 may be moved. However, the frictional engagement will not be so great that the balltype movable member cannot be moved from position to position as represented by the engaging crimp sections 410a and 411a, 410b and 411b, etc.

FIG. 24 differs from FIG. 20 only to the extend that instead of having one ball-type movable member 403a for contact with the switch means on element 401 but additionally there will be a ball-type movable member 403b to provide contact with the switches so as to enable the device 400a to operate as a dual switch element.

In FIGS. 25 to 28 another multi-switch device in accordance with the present invention generally designated 420 is shown as including a suitable contact means 421 on which are formed a plurality of switch contacts as at 421a, 421b, 421e, etc. The member 421 will be connected by soldering means to one side of the circuit which is mounted on the substrate and the switch means 421a, 421b, 421e, etc. will be connected to the elements to be controlled.

A support means 422 is disposed for operation relation with the switch member 421 and holds a ball-type movable switch contact 423 in engagement between the support means and the upper face of the switch elements 421a, 421b, 4210 of the switch member 421.

The support member is shown as including a mounting plate 424 which is soldered to the opposite side of the circuit means in spaced position relative to the switch member 421. The mounting means is continuous with a resilient portion 425 which communicates at the end remote from the end connected to the mounting plate 424 with a pair of longitudinally extending arms 426 and 427 which overhang the switch member 421 as clearly shown in FIGS. 25, 26 and 27 of the drawings.

The arm members 426 and 427 are disposed in spaced relation to each other to form a guide opening generally designated 428 and on the respective inner edges of the arms 426 and 427 there are formed a plurality of coacting crimped sections as at 431a, 431b, 431c; etc. on arm 426 and 4320, 432b, and 432C on arm 427 which are disposed in opposed relationship to each other so that in assembled position they will engage the upper portion of the ball-type movable switch member 423 and hold the same in a given adjusted switch engaging position so that the ball member can be maintained and held by the arms 426 and 427 and the associated coacting crimp portions such as the elements 431b and 43212 as shown in FIG. 24 of the drawings.

The overhanging arms 426 and 427 will have a certain degree of resilence depending upon the material of which the support member 422 is'made and will be tensioned so as to exert the necessary force to maintain the ball-type switch member 423 in any given adjusted longitudinal position in the ball guide opening 428.

In FIG. 29 a wire type form of variable switch generally designated 450 is shown as including a switch member 451 which includes a plurality of switch contacts 451a, 451b, 45lc,'etc. The member 451 will be connected to one side of the circuit which is disposed on the substrate and the switch member 451a, 451b, and 451C, etc. will be connected to the elements to be controlled in said circuit.

Coacting with the switch member 451 is the wire type support member 452 which engages and holds a balltype movable member 453 for adjustable positioning thereof so as to engage anyone of said plurality of switches 451a, 451b, 45lc etc. on the switch member 451.

The support member will include a mounting section consisting of a pair of spaced wire elements 454 and 455 which are soldered to the side of the circuit opposite from that to which the switch member 551 and the plurality of switches 451a, 451b, 451e, etc. are connected.

Continuous with the mounting sections 454 and 455 are a pair of spaced resilient loops 456 and 457 which in turn are connected to the end of legs 458 and 459 of U-shaped member, the remote end of which forms a bend as at 460 so that the legs 458, 459 and the bend portion 460 overhang or extend over the switch member 451 and the plurality of switches 451a, 451b, 4510 formed thereon.

Between the legs 458 and 459 and the bent portion 460 a longitudinally extending guide opening is formed as at 461.

On the inner slightly downward face of the legs 458 and 459 which form the guide opening 461 there are provided a plurality respectively of indented sections on each respective sides such as the indentations 462a, 462b, 462e, etc. which indentation engage and hold the ball-type movable member 453 in any given adjusted position it is set to engage a given switch element as for example element 4510 as shown in FIG. 29 of the drawmgs.

It will be understood that the overhang portion of the U-shaped member is sufficiently resilient to maintain the ball-type member 453 in engagement with the switch member 451. However, the frictional engagement will be such that the ball-type member 453 can be adjusted from position to position as may be required in connection with the specific circuit.

Thus, as has been illustrated above, we have provided a simple variable electronic component of great versatility and with minimum parts adopted to be made in particular for very small size electronic circuits.

The variable electronic component is characterized by the fact that the elements are independently mounted directly connected to the 'circuit and have no drive mechanism for operation.

The elements of the variable electronic component further are so constructed that they have good electrical contact at all times and substantial misalign can occur without interferring with this electrical connection between the elements. Thus, in contrast to many miniature prior art devices the variable electronic components herein disclosed produce limited or very little electrical noise", have low contact resistance and minimal electrical inductance in use and in assembled relation in the circuit to which they are connected.

It is considered manifest that many variations to the structures described above in detail with respect to the disclosed embodiment can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A variable electronic component for use in a subminiature electronic circuit disposed on a supporting substrate comprising;

a. conductive contact means directly connectible to one side of the electronic circuit and having a portion forming a planar surface,

b. a conductive support member directly connectible 5 to the other side of said electronic circuit independent of and overlying said contact means in predetermined spaced relation thereto,

c. means in said support member forming at least one longitudinally extending opening therein disposed in alignment with the longitudinal line of the planar surface of the contact means,

d. said means in said support member including side edges along the longitudinally extending opening,

e. means movably mounted in said support member opening, f. said movable means is a rotatable member having a diameter greater than the predetermined spacing of said support member from the contact means whereby it extends into the longitudinally extending opening and engages the side edges thereof for holding said movable means in any given position of relationship with the planar surface of the contact means, g. said movable means is rotatably adjustable, and h. means between the planar surface of the contact means and the movable means to provide a desired range of impedance characteristics to said variable electronic components. 2. In a variable electronic component as claimed in claim 1 wherein, Y

a. the support member is rectangular in plan view and has spaced mounting legs connected to the sides thereof, and a top wall,

b. spaced retaining members formed in said top wall and providing the side edges of the longitudinally extending opening therebetween,

c. the retaining members slightly flared at these adjacent edges to engage the sized rotatable movable means therebetween.

3. A variable electronic component for 'use in a sub miniature electronic circuit disposed on a supporting substrate comprising:

a. conductive contact means directly connectible to one side of the electronic circuit and having a portion forming a planar surface,

' b. a conductive support member directly connectible to the other side of said electronic circuit independent of and overlying said contact means in predetermined spaced relation thereto,

0. the support member has a mounting means, and a pair of spaced longitudinally extending arms are resiliently connected to said mounting means to provide a longitudinally extending opening therebetween,

d. said longitudinally extending arms cantilevered to overhang the contact means so the longitudinally I and adjustable along the longitudinally extending g. means between the planarsurface of the contact means and the movable means to provide a desired range of impedance characteristics to said variable electronic component.

4. In a variable electronic component as claimed in claim 3 wherein,

a. the longitudinally extending opening is closed at one end to provide inner stop means for said movable member,

b. and said spaced arms have outer stop means formed at the end of the longitudinally extending opening remote from the closed end.

5. A variable electronic component for use in a subminiature electronic circuit disposed on a supporting substrate comprising:

a. conductive contact means directly connectible to one side of the electronic circuit and having a portion forming a planar surface,

b. a conductive support member directly connectible to the other side of said electronic circuit independent of and overlying said contact means in predetermined spaced relation thereto,

0. the support member comprises a shaped convoluted wire member which forms a longitudinally extending opening in alignment with the longitudinal line of the planar surface of the contact means, and means to connect the support member to the electronic circuit, and

d. means on the support member including, side edges along the longitudinally extending opening, means movably mounted in said support member and adjustable along the longitudinally extending opening,

f. said movable means in engagement with the side edges of the longitudinally extending openingfor holding said movable means in any given adjustable position of relationship with the planar surface of the contact means, and l and the movable means is a sized device contained by the longitudinally extending opening in the support member for operative coaction along the longitudinal line of the contact means,

h. and said movable means is larger in diameter than the space between the longitudinally extending opening and the upper surface of the contact means, and

i. means between the planar surface of the contact means and the movable means to provide a desired range of impedance characteristics to said varaible electronic component.

6. In a variable electronic component as claimed in claim 5 wherein the longitudinally extending opening is closed at the outer ends to form one stop means and shoulder means is formed at the inner end to form another stop means.

7. In a variable electronic component as claimed in claim 5 wherein the mounting means is disposed laterally of the longitudinally extending opening.

8. In a variable electronic component as claimed in claim 5 wherein the mounting means is at one end of the support member, and the shaped convoluted wire is cantilevered so that the longitudinally extending opening overhangs the contact means in a position along the longitudinal length of the contact means.

9. A variable electronic component for use in a subminiature electronic circuit disposed on a supporting substrate comprising,

a. conductive contact means directly connectible to one side of the electronic circuit and having a portion forming a planar surface,

b. a conductive support member directly connectible to other side of said electronic circuit independent of and overlying said contact means in predetermined spaced relation thereto,

0. means in said support member forming at least one longitudinally extending opening therein disposed in alignment with the longitudinal line of the planar surface of the contact means,

d. said means in said support member including side edges along the longitudinally extending opening,

e. means movably mounted in said support member and adjustable along the longitudinally extending opening,

f. said movable means in engagement with the side edges of the longitudinally extending opening for holding said movable means in any given adjustable position of relationship with the planar surface of the contact means,

g. means forming incremental steps on the side edges of the longitudinally extending opening for stepwise movement of the movable means from one adjusted position to or from another adjusted position, and

h. means between the planar surface of the contact means and the movable means to provide a desired range of impedance characteristics to said variable electronic component.

10. In a variable electronic component as claimed in claim 9 wherein,

a. the support member is rectangular in plan view and has spaced mounting legs connected to the sides thereof, and a top wall,

b. spaced retaining members formed in said top wall and forming the side edges of the longitudinally extending opening therebetween,

c. said retaining member each have flared portions on the adjacent edges for engagement with the movable means,

d. and crimped coacting ridges formed on each of the flared portions to provide stop members for the desired incremental movement of the movable 11. In a variable electronic component as claimed in claim 9 wherein,

a. the support member has a mounting means, and a pair of spaced arms resiliently connected to said mounting means to provide the longitudinal ex tending opening therebetween,

b. said pair of arms cantilevered so as to overhang the longitudinal length of the contact means and bring said longitudinally extending opening into alignment with the longitudinal length of the planar surface thereof.

c. and said spaced arms retaining the movable means within the opening and in engagement with the contact means. 7

12. In a variable electronic component as claimed in claim 11 wherein,

a. the longitudinally extending opening is closed at one end to provide a first stop means, and

b. a second stop means is provided on said arms remote from the first stop means.

13. In a variable electronic component as claimed in claim 9 wherein the support means comprises a shaped convoluted wire member, the means forming the longitudinally extending opening is disposed medially in said support means, and the mounting means is resiliently connected to the means forming the longitudinally extending opening. 

1. A variable electronic component for use in a sub-miniature electronic circuit disposed on a supporting substrate comprising; a. conductive contact means directly connectible to one side of the electronic circuit and having a portion forming a planar surface, b. a conductive support member directly connectible to the other side of said electronic circuit independent of and overlying said contact means in predetermined spaced relation thereto, c. means in said support member forming at least one longitudinally extending opening therein disposed in alignment with the longitudinal line of the planar surface of the contact means, d. said means in said support member including side edges along the longitudinally extending opening, e. means movably mounted in said support member and adjustable along the longitudinally extending opening, f. said movable means is a rotatable member having a diameter greater than the predetermined sPacing of said support member from the contact means whereby it extends into the longitudinally extending opening and engages the side edges thereof for holding said movable means in any given position of relationship with the planar surface of the contact means, g. said movable means is rotatably adjustable, and h. means between the planar surface of the contact means and the movable means to provide a desired range of impedance characteristics to said variable electronic components.
 2. In a variable electronic component as claimed in claim 1 wherein, a. the support member is rectangular in plan view and has spaced mounting legs connected to the sides thereof, and a top wall, b. spaced retaining members formed in said top wall and providing the side edges of the longitudinally extending opening therebetween, c. the retaining members slightly flared at these adjacent edges to engage the sized rotatable movable means therebetween.
 3. A variable electronic component for use in a sub miniature electronic circuit disposed on a supporting substrate comprising: a. conductive contact means directly connectible to one side of the electronic circuit and having a portion forming a planar surface, b. a conductive support member directly connectible to the other side of said electronic circuit independent of and overlying said contact means in predetermined spaced relation thereto, c. the support member has a mounting means, and a pair of spaced longitudinally extending arms are resiliently connected to said mounting means to provide a longitudinally extending opening therebetween, d. said longitudinally extending arms cantilevered to overhang the contact means so the longitudinally extending opening is aligned with the longitudinal length of the contact means, e. means movably mounted in the support means and adjustable along the longitudinally extending opening, f. means on said spaced arms including side edges along the longitudinally extending opening for retaining the movable means in any given adjustable position of relationship with the planar surface of the contact means, and g. means between the planar surface of the contact means and the movable means to provide a desired range of impedance characteristics to said variable electronic component.
 4. In a variable electronic component as claimed in claim 3 wherein, a. the longitudinally extending opening is closed at one end to provide inner stop means for said movable member, b. and said spaced arms have outer stop means formed at the end of the longitudinally extending opening remote from the closed end.
 5. A variable electronic component for use in a sub-miniature electronic circuit disposed on a supporting substrate comprising: a. conductive contact means directly connectible to one side of the electronic circuit and having a portion forming a planar surface, b. a conductive support member directly connectible to the other side of said electronic circuit independent of and overlying said contact means in predetermined spaced relation thereto, c. the support member comprises a shaped convoluted wire member which forms a longitudinally extending opening in alignment with the longitudinal line of the planar surface of the contact means, and means to connect the support member to the electronic circuit, and d. means on the support member including, side edges along the longitudinally extending opening, e. means movably mounted in said support member and adjustable along the longitudinally extending opening, f. said movable means in engagement with the side edges of the longitudinally extending opening for holding said movable means in any given adjustable position of relationship with the planar surface of the contact means, and g. and the movable means is a sized device contained by the longitudinally extending opening in the support member for operative coaction along the longitudinal line of the contact mEans, h. and said movable means is larger in diameter than the space between the longitudinally extending opening and the upper surface of the contact means, and i. means between the planar surface of the contact means and the movable means to provide a desired range of impedance characteristics to said varaible electronic component.
 6. In a variable electronic component as claimed in claim 5 wherein the longitudinally extending opening is closed at the outer ends to form one stop means and shoulder means is formed at the inner end to form another stop means.
 7. In a variable electronic component as claimed in claim 5 wherein the mounting means is disposed laterally of the longitudinally extending opening.
 8. In a variable electronic component as claimed in claim 5 wherein the mounting means is at one end of the support member, and the shaped convoluted wire is cantilevered so that the longitudinally extending opening overhangs the contact means in a position along the longitudinal length of the contact means.
 9. A variable electronic component for use in a sub-miniature electronic circuit disposed on a supporting substrate comprising, a. conductive contact means directly connectible to one side of the electronic circuit and having a portion forming a planar surface, b. a conductive support member directly connectible to other side of said electronic circuit independent of and overlying said contact means in predetermined spaced relation thereto, c. means in said support member forming at least one longitudinally extending opening therein disposed in alignment with the longitudinal line of the planar surface of the contact means, d. said means in said support member including side edges along the longitudinally extending opening, e. means movably mounted in said support member and adjustable along the longitudinally extending opening, f. said movable means in engagement with the side edges of the longitudinally extending opening for holding said movable means in any given adjustable position of relationship with the planar surface of the contact means, g. means forming incremental steps on the side edges of the longitudinally extending opening for stepwise movement of the movable means from one adjusted position to or from another adjusted position, and h. means between the planar surface of the contact means and the movable means to provide a desired range of impedance characteristics to said variable electronic component.
 10. In a variable electronic component as claimed in claim 9 wherein, a. the support member is rectangular in plan view and has spaced mounting legs connected to the sides thereof, and a top wall, b. spaced retaining members formed in said top wall and forming the side edges of the longitudinally extending opening therebetween, c. said retaining member each have flared portions on the adjacent edges for engagement with the movable means, d. and crimped coacting ridges formed on each of the flared portions to provide stop members for the desired incremental movement of the movable means.
 11. In a variable electronic component as claimed in claim 9 wherein, a. the support member has a mounting means, and a pair of spaced arms resiliently connected to said mounting means to provide the longitudinal extending opening therebetween, b. said pair of arms cantilevered so as to overhang the longitudinal length of the contact means and bring said longitudinally extending opening into alignment with the longitudinal length of the planar surface thereof. c. and said spaced arms retaining the movable means within the opening and in engagement with the contact means.
 12. In a variable electronic component as claimed in claim 11 wherein, a. the longitudinally extending opening is closed at one end to provide a first stop means, and b. a second stop means is provided on said arms remote from the first stop means.
 13. In a variable electronic component as claimed in claim 9 wherein the support means comprises a shaped convoluted wire member, the means forming the longitudinally extending opening is disposed medially in said support means, and the mounting means is resiliently connected to the means forming the longitudinally extending opening. 